Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

News

Documents Emefiele used to Request $6.2m Payment for Observers Forged, Forensic Analyst tells Court

The trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, continued on Thursday, March 7, 2024, before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja as a forensic analyst confirmed that the documents used to request the payment of $6.2million for foreign election observers were forged.

The witness, Bamaiyi Meriga, called by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), informed the court that following forensic analysis of the disputed documents, he discovered that there was clear evidence of forgery of signature, and the seal of execution were different from the original.

Continuing the trial of former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele, a forensic analyst has confirmed that the document used to request payment of $6.2 million to foreign election observers was forged.

He also confirmed that the signature were not those of former President Muhammadu Buhari and ex-Secretary General of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha.

The two documents, Presidential Directive on Foreign Observer Election and Presidential Directive on Foreign Observer Election tendered in evidence were admitted in evidence by the trial judge, Justice Muazu.

Under cross-examination by counsel for Emefiele, the witness said he was not a staff of the EFCC, and was not being paid by the anti-graft agency but his salary was domiciled with the Nigeria Immigration Service.

Counsel for Emefiele, Matthew Burkaa, expressed displeasure over the conduct of the witness, saying that the witness misled the court by evading questions.

However, the Prosecution Counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, was not not happy with the defence counsel.

The trial has been adjourned till March 11 for continuation.

ALSO READ:

$6.2M Fraud: Ex-SGF Boss Mustapha Testifies in Emefiele’s Trial, Claims Buhari’s Signature was Forged for Central Bank Withdrawals

Emefiele is standing trial before Justice Muazu on 20-count amended charges bordering on corrupt advantages, conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery and obtaining by false pretenses to the tune of $6,230,000.

He was accused of impersonating the SGF to illegally obtain a sum of $6.2m.

Mid-February, ex-SGF Mustapha testified before the court  and said he knew nothing about the transaction up till the time he left office at the end of May 2023, adding that having served for five years and seven months, the document in contention didn’t emanate from the office of the then President Buhari.

Channels

You May Also Like

Featured

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s board and management team have been appointed by President Bola Tinubu, as announced by Ajuri Ngelale, the Special...

Featured

Fifteen suspects involved in the illicit training of teenagers in the manufacturing of weapons have been apprehended by the Benue State Police Command. The...

Featured

Saudi Arabia has revoked the visas of all 264 passengers who arrived in Jeddah from Kano on Monday via Air Peace, a major Nigerian...

Technology

A group, Citizens’ Gavel, has launched an Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform called Podus AI to assist indigent Nigerians to get access to justice as...